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CrowdStrike Foundation Announces NextGen Scholarship Recipients for Academic Year 2019 – 2020

Foundation recognizes university students as next-generation leaders in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and Fal.Con UNITE 2019, SAN DIEGO – November 4, 2019 – 

The CrowdStrike Foundation, a nonprofit that funds scholarships and research and provides pro-bono security software protection, today announced the recipients of its NextGen Scholarship awards for academic year 2019 – 2020. The six scholarship recipients were chosen from numerous outstanding applicants studying cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) at both the graduate and undergraduate level at universities across the United States.  The students will be recognized at CrowdStrike’s third annual user conference, Fal.Con UNITE in San Diego, California.

The recipients of the CrowdStrike Foundation’s NextGen scholarships for academic year 2019 – 2020 are:

  • Adefolarin Bolaji, graduate student at Purdue University
  • Alexander Baker, undergraduate student at Tennessee Technological University
  • Alyssa Ronquillo, graduate student at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
  • Greg Garwood, graduate student at National University
  • Lily Sharples, undergraduate student at the University of Georgia
  • Sarah Lachance, graduate student at Brown University

“At CrowdStrike, we are committed to supporting the future leaders in cybersecurity and AI. The students awarded scholarships demonstrated both excellent academic records and a passion for a career in cybersecurity or AI,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, president of the CrowdStrike Foundation and co-founder and chief technology officer at CrowdStrike. “The increasingly dangerous threat environment is creating tremendous demand for the best possible talent in cybersecurity, and the CrowdStrike Foundation is pleased to step up in supporting new talent with our NextGen Scholarship Program.”

The CrowdStrike Foundation was established in 2017, and this is the second annual round of its NextGen Scholarship awards for graduate and undergraduate students. Next year, the foundation will expand its support of the next generation of talent and leadership in cybersecurity and AI with scholarship assistance in India and Romania.

“I congratulate our NextGen Scholarship recipients, who were selected from a very strong pool of applicants,” said George Kurtz, chairman of the board of the CrowdStrike Foundation and co-founder and chief executive officer at CrowdStrike. “Digital transformation continues to permeate every aspect of business and our personal lives, yet there is a great talent gap in the cybersecurity industry that protects our digital assets. The CrowdStrike Foundation is investing in the security of future generations with the NextGen Scholarship program. We look forward to expanding the program and supporting university students across the globe pursuing studies and careers in cybersecurity and AI.”

About the CrowdStrike Foundation

CrowdStrike® Inc., the leader in cloud-delivered endpoint protection established the CrowdStrike Foundation to nurture and develop the next generation of talent and research in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). The CrowdStrike Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funds scholarships and research, provides pro bono security software protection, and supports communities across the globe. Major programs of the CrowdStrike Foundation include:

  • NextGen Scholarship Program for undergraduate and graduate students studying cybersecurity and/or AI
  • Funding research in cybersecurity and/or AI programs
  • Pro bono security software protection for nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations
  • Support for communities through philanthropy, volunteering, and other activities.
  • More information on the CrowdStrike Foundation’s programs can be accessed on the foundation’s website.

Contacts
The CrowdStrike Foundation
Ilina Cashiola, 202-340-0517
Ilina.cashiola@crowdstrike.com